For the past four years, when Jack Twomey takes the mat for the Redwood High wrestling team his sister Hannah has been on the sidelines to cheer him on. When she does it now, however, she's doing it as more than a sister — she's a teammate.

Hannah is now in her second season with the Giants and isn't letting her own career prevent her from supporting Jack. She recently spent two days cheering on her older brother in the California Coast Classic in Aptos, and traveled to another tournament the following day for her own matches.

"It's kind of neat to be around people who have a lot of energy that way," Redwood coach Alan Morris said. "They're real doers. They never complain that something's too hard. "... They just take care of business."

Former co-coach Paul Schloesser recruited Jack to the team as a freshman and he quickly developed a connection to the sport.

"It's just the intensity of it and the physicality but there's also a mental aspect "... a combination of the two," Jack said, adding that he likes the duality of the individual and team aspect as well. "You can succeed but you're also trying to help your team succeed at the same time."

Hannah and their father Bill supported Jack at all of his tournaments and meets, giving her an early introduction to the sport.

"I was going to all of his tournaments and I don't even know what it really was that got me (interested)," Hannah said, but admitted seeing other female wrestlers was an inspiration. "It kind of showed me that I could try it, too. "... It intrigued me that I could do a guys sport."

Just like it was for Jack, Hannah fit right in with the team.

"I kind of knew the team, knew the coach, so I felt really comfortable because I knew I was welcome," she said.

Hannah has progressed rapidly, Morris said, and part of that is from the help she's received at home.

"It's clear that she looks up to her brother from a coach perspective as well as a big brother perspective," Morris said.

"It's fun, as the older sibling," Jack said. "I'm into teaching. "... When she doesn't know something that's more advanced it's really nice to give her a chance to learn it."

For Hannah, Jack provides an extra push that she says has made a difference.

"He can be hard on me, but in a good way," she said. "He wants me to get a move down perfectly— he wants that to be good before he shows me another thing. He kind of figured out what works for me and what doesn't and it helped me to become a better wrestler."

Part of becoming a better wrestler means taking your lumps early on — something that can be difficult to watch.

"(Jack) also realizes that it's a combative sport so he also gives her room to suffer the bumps and bruises that you have to go through to get better," Morris said. "She seems to be confident in her ability to handle herself and he gives her enough space to grow and develop as an athlete and as a wrestler."

Morris lamented the lack of training partners for Hannah, who is currently Redwood's only female wrestler.

"It's tough because you don't have a lot of people at her size," he said. "She has to work out with different-sized people (but) she makes the most of it. "... She's one of the guys, but when she goes off to tournaments she makes friends."

There are pros and cons to being the only girl, Hannah said.

"It's tough because they're normally a lot stronger but it makes me want to work harder on my technique. You're a lot more flexible than them. "... They can be surprised."

Both siblings have goals for their final season as teammates: do well at NCS and hopefully advance to the state meet.

"I just want to have a good season for me individually and as a team," Jack said. "We have a big team this year that can hopefully take down any tough opponent."

It may be their final season as teammates, but their time together on the mat has been worth it.

"We obviously argue, we're siblings, but I think wrestling's added something," Hannah said. "We spend a lot more time with each other now. "... I don't know if it's brought us closer but it's added another aspect to our relationship as siblings."